Integrated label printer and barcode reader, and related systems and methods

1. An integrated barcode printing and scanning mechanism, comprising: a printer configured to print labels each having a barcode on a print side of the label and a layer of adhesive on an adhesive side of the label opposite the print side, wherein the barcode printing and scanning mechanism is configured to direct each printed label in a direction of travel; a tamp head assembly having a tamp head that is configured to press the label against a package while the package resides in a package labeling zone adjacent the tamp head so that the adhesive side adheres to the package and the print side is visible from an exterior of the package; and a barcode scanner located downstream of the printer and facing the print side of each label, wherein the barcode scanner is configured to scan the barcode of each label prior to each label being pressed against the package by the tamp head, wherein the barcode scanner is configured to transmit scan data to a processor in communication with the barcode scanner for verifying the barcode on each label.

2. The integrated barcode printing and scanning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the barcode scanner is a fixed line scanner.

3. The integrated barcode printing and scanning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the barcode scanner is located downstream of the printer and upstream of the tamp head with respect to the direction of travel.

4. The integrated barcode printing and scanning mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the barcode scanner is located in a controlled environment between the printer and the tamp head assembly.

5. A labeling device, comprising: a printer configured to print labels each having a barcode on a print side of the label opposite an adhesive side of the label, wherein the printer is configured to direct each printed label in a direction of travel; a label applicator located downstream of the printer with respect to the direction of travel; and a barcode scanner located downstream of the printer with respect to the direction of travel, wherein the barcode scanner is configured to scan the barcode of each label before the label applicator presses the label against a package.

6. The labeling device of claim 5 , wherein the barcode scanner is located in a space defined between the printer and the label applicator with respect to the direction of travel.

7. The labeling device of claim 5 , wherein the barcode scanner faces the print side of each label.

8. The labeling device of claim 5 , wherein the barcode scanner is a line scanner.

9. The labeling device of claim 8 , wherein the line scanner includes a plurality of scanning elements each configured to measure light intensity along a scan element axis, wherein the scan element axes of each of the scanning elements are parallel and are intersected by a single linear axis oriented perpendicular to the scan element axes.

10. The labeling device of claim 9 , wherein the labeling device is configured to direct each printed label such that elongate lines of the barcode are oriented along the direction of travel.

11. The labeling device of claim 10 , wherein each of the lines of the barcode is intersected by a multiplicity of the scanning elements as the respective label passes in front of the scanning elements.

12. The labeling device of claim 9 , wherein the labeling device is configured to direct each printed label such that lines of the barcode are oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel.

13. The labeling device of claim 12 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure the print rate of the labels and communicate print rate data to a processor.

14. The labeling device of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a rotary encoder rotationally coupled to a drive roller of the printer.

15. The labeling device of claim 5 , wherein the printer is a thermal transfer printer.

16. A method of verifying barcodes on printed labels intended for affixation to packages, the method comprising: printing a plurality of labels with a printer, each printed label of the plurality of labels having a barcode on a print side of the label and a layer of adhesive on an adhesive side of the label opposite the print side; directing each label from the printer in a direction of travel toward a label applicator; scanning the barcode on each label with a barcode scanner so as to generate scan data for verifying the accuracy of the printed barcode; and after the scanning step, advancing a tamp head of the label applicator against each label verified accurate, thereby pressing each verified label against an associated package.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the barcode scanner is located between the printer and the tamp head with respect to the direction of travel.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scanning step comprises: scanning the barcode along a linear scan axis oriented parallel with elongate lines of the barcode; advancing the elongate lines of the barcode in succession across the linear axis during the scanning step; and transmitting the generated scan data to a processor configured to interpret the scan data for verifying the accuracy of the printed barcode.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: obtaining print rate measurements from a sensor configured to measure movement of a driver of the printer; and transmitting data representing the print rate measurements to the processor for calibrating the scan data as a function of a print rate of the printer.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scanning step comprises: scanning the barcode along a linear axis oriented perpendicular to elongate lines of the barcode; advancing each elongate line of the barcode concurrently across the linear axis during the scanning step; and transmitting the generated scan data to a processor configured to interpret the scan data for verifying the accuracy of the printed barcode.